New Hearing Loss Collective in Cass County looks to be place of support

Feb. 9—A new group is looking to bring together Cass County adults with hearing loss issues.

The Hearing Loss Collective will hold their first meeting at 6 p.m. on Feb. 15 in the second-floor conference room at the Logansport-Cass County Public Library, 616 E. Broadway St.

The group is the idea of Amy Jones, a Logansport resident who has dealt with hearing loss since she was a child.

It took seven surgeries, and well into her adult life, just for her to learn she had a rare birth defect called ossicular malformation where the ossicles, three bones in the middle ear, aren't fully formed and don't function properly.

"I'm at the point where there's nothing else to do," she said. "I wear hearing aids. I have one partial implant. I just have to deal."

Jones, who describes herself as an introvert, said she called the group a collective because she wanted others to feel comfortable stepping up and sharing ideas. She said she doesn't want to stand up and speak in front of people and hopes others who are interested in the group will help out.

"I've never been to a support group," she said. "There's nothing around here. I thought there's a lot of us out there and I am sure we can find each other and see what happens."

Jones, who moved to Logansport with her family two years ago, said she thought it helps a lot to know you aren't alone, that others understand what you are going through.

"Even now I get people who say 'you speak well for having hearing aids' or 'you have selective hearing'," she said. "Why would I go through (surgeries) if it's not a real problem?"

Jones said part of the frustration of hearing loss is the reactions of others when they are asked to repeat themselves.

"I've had people tell me I'm not trying hard enough to hear, or that I could hear if I wanted to, or that I should pray about it," she said. "You would never tell someone who's missing a limb that they could regrow that limb if they wanted to, or that they're not trying hard enough, so why would you tell someone with imperfect ears that they could hear better with those imperfect ears if they really wanted to."

She said those dealing with hearing loss often feel stuck in a middle zone between hearing and deafness where they think they should be doing better than they are but in reality they are successfully handling the issue of hearing loss.

She hoped those who might attend the meeting will learn from others how to cope with frustrating moments and also understand that they are doing the best they can.

For the first meeting, she would like to share experiences and find out what everyone in attendance wants to accomplish with the group.

"Forbes Health" reported that 1.5 billion people worldwide are affected by hearing loss in at least one ear and 700 million more will experience the problem by 2050.

Hearing loss was more common in men aged 20 to 69 than women, according to the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders.

In March 2022, the World Health Organization said that one billion people aged 12 to 35 were at risk of hearing loss due to loud music or recreational sounds.

They suggested people keep the volume down on audio devices, use noise-canceling earphones or headphones when possible, wear earplugs in loud venues and get regular hearing check-ups.

Jones said hearing loss is a constant source of anxiety and frustration to those who experience it.

"I wake up in the morning knowing I'm going to be carrying this problem around with me all day and I get up and deal with it because I don't have a choice," she said. "It's easy to get upset about what you're missing and feel like you're alone in this and just really set apart from other people."

She hoped the group will bring relief to others and be a place where people with hearing loss know they aren't alone. And perhaps they can work together to advocate for themselves.

"I just hope people show up," said Jones. "And they come with great suggestions."

For more information contact Amy Jones at plightofcats@gmail.com.